Women get bronze but tough lady Wong stands out

Stretched to the limit: National women’s singles shuttler Wong Ling Ching in action against Indonesia’s Gregoria Masriska during the women’s team semi-finals. — Bernama

BANGKOK: A year ago, Wong Ling Ching walked away from badminton to further her studies. Two months later, she was back and convinced she still had unfinished business on court.

That decision proved inspiring yesterday when the 22-year-old delivered the biggest win of her career at the Thailand SEA Games.

Playing as Malaysia’s second singles, Ling Ching stunned Paris Olympic bronze medallist and world No. 10 Gregoria Mariska of Indonesia 22-20, 15-21, 21-16 in 66 minutes to give Malaysia a 2-1 lead at Thammasat University in Pathum Thani.

It was her first-ever win over a top-10 player, made even more remarkable considering she had been battling flu and fever in the days leading up to the competition.

Despite her heroic effort, Malaysia fell 2-3 to Indonesia in the semi-finals and settled for bronze.

Earlier, K. Letshanaa lost the opening tie, before Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah levelled the score. Malaysia then took a bold gamble by fielding mixed doubles world champion Toh Ee Wei and Go Pei Kee as the second doubles pair, but the experiment backfired when they failed to deliver the crucial point.

That left 19-year-old Siti Zulaikha Azmi under immense pressure, and she was unable to salvage the tie.

Still, Ling Ching’s performance was the standout.

Singles coaching director Kenneth Jonassen, who had challenged the women’s singles team to show character before the Games, praised her resolve.

“Ling Ching was battling sickness before the tournament but she still trained at a good level,” said Jonassen.

“She’s a tough woman. She wanted to fight through even though her condition wasn’t ideal.

“These medal events test whether players can deliver against the best and she showed she’s a fighter.”

Although Malaysia missed out on their first final since 2017, the bronze represents progress after quarter-final exits in the last two SEA Games in Vietnam (2021) and Cambodia (2023).

Ling Ching now turns her attention to the individual event starting Thursday, where she will be joined by Letshanaa, Pearly-Thinaah, and her usual partner Teoh Mei Xing.